Ex. 16: 2-15 Notes

1) Understandable complaints come for basic human needs. Note that it is against 2 leaders.
2) the complaining is part of a childish way of approaching trouble; they have to learn the responsibility of adults. Still, the complaining works, and Godd responds to them and the complaints of the leaders.
3) As I’ve said before, I think it mistaken to try to match the miracle of abundance to natural phenomena in the region. the move is from dependence on the food of slaves to the abundance of god. The move is from subsistence to plenty.
4) Unfortunately the lectionary skips over the sabbath portion of the story. Sabbath is a time for rest from labor, but provision is set up for it. In that sense then the wilderness crossing is a long, long, religious procession, as it continues into the promised land.
5) What do you think, provision will fall from the sky/ This time, yes.
6) Mann’s name may well be a joke as it could possibly emerge from the question in hebrew, what is it, Man hu.
7) All of this conflict over resources could be a sermon theme. so could a consideration of church leadership and what seems to be a mania for complaint in contemporary congregations and clergy.
8) As I think about it, this could be a good time to examine the spiritual impact of complaint. For instance, constant complaining about a spouse is corrosive as it starts to blend into contempt. What does complaining do to an adult sense of responsibility.